Saudi Press Agency / EPA
Trump in Riade, Saudi Arabia, at his first official visit abroad after being elected US president.
The offer raises important ethical questions, given the enormous value of the luxuriously equipped plane – and Trump’s intention to take over his property after leaving office.
Trump administration plans to accept a Boeing 747-8 Luxury As a donation of Qatar’s royal family, which will be adapted to serve as Air Force One, which would make him one of the largest foreign gifts ever received by the US government, according to several US officials with knowledge of the matter.
The plane should be later donated to the Presidential Library From Donald Trump when he left office, two high White House officials said, which, says, raises the possibility that the US President could use the plane Even after the end of its presidency.
In his social network social network, this Sunday, after a day of controversy in which even some Republicans privately questioned the wisdom of the plan, Donald Trump confirmed that is inclined to receive the plane – And suggested that the Democrats are “Losers” for questioning ethics of this decision.
“The fact that the Defense Department is receiving a Present, freefrom a 747 plane to temporarily replace Air Force One 40 years old, in a transaction very public and transparentit bothers both the corrupt democrats that they insist that we pay the maximum price for the plane, ”wrote Trump.
“Anyone can do this! Democrats are world class losers !!!”, concluded the US president.
Democrats and groups advocating good governance defended as little ethical and probably unconstitutional May the Qatar make this offer. “Nothing says ‘America First’ like Air Force One, offered by Qatar,” the Democratic leader in the Senate, Chuck Schumerin the social network X.
“It’s not just a bribe, it’s a foreign influence First class with extra space for the legs, ”added Schumer.
More than a means of transport, often called the “celestial palace”, the Air Force One It is a symbol of the presidency from the United States, being used in official visits to other countries. It is also a Mobile Command Platformwhich in case of crisis allows to keep the US government to function – from the air.
Also Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (Crew), an organization of good governance, questioned the legality of the transferunderlining that the United States Constitution prohibits US civil servants of accept gifts from foreign governments without the approval of Congress.
“This really looks like a foreign country with which the president of the United States has personal businesswhich offers him a $ 400 million gift, before Trump meets his head of state, ”Crew spokesman said in a statement, said in a statement Jordan Libowitz.
“It’s hard to see as a coincidence That Trump’s company has just announced a new golf resort in Qatar, allegedly in partnership with a company owned by the country’s government, ”said Libowitz.
The Trump organization, Donald Trump’s business conglomerate, announced in April that it will begin to develop its First real estate project at Qatarwith the construction of a golf and housing club in the coastal zone of Simalsma, in the capital, Doha.
Donald Trump, however, sees no harm in the offer – on the contrary, he considers that 747 is a Gift for the Department of Defense From the US, which somehow can no longer be considered corruption.
“If we get a 747 as a contribution for our Defense Department to use for a few years while building othersI think sI would have a very friendly gesture“Said Trump, quoted by.
“Now, I It could be a stupid person and say “Oh no, we don’t want a free plane“. We give things for free, we also accept one. And that helps us because, once again, we are talking about … Terms 40 years old,” he added.
Trump has previously expressed two new Boeing 747-8 to serve as Air Force One Updated. During his first term, Trump signed with the US Aeronautical Construction the delivery of planes in 2024.
A US Air Force official announced to the US Congress last week that Boeing Estimates finish the aircraft by 2027.
